Evaluation synthesis reports (ESRs) are prepared primarily to promote learning and collective reflection, with a view to improving IFAD’s development effectiveness. ESRs are knowledge products and a means to consolidate and share acquired knowledge and strengthen IFAD’s evaluation feedback and learning loops. Synthesizing existing evaluation evidence allows ESRs to contribute to decision-making processes in an effective way, especially when there is neither adequate time nor resources to undertake a full-fledged evaluation.